At least 13 people were killed and three others seriously injured on Tuesday in tribal clashes in northwestern Kenya.

Local leaders said the clashes occurred when heavily armed raiders from the Samburu community invaded a village and stole 205 camels and two donkeys during the early morning raid in Samburu County.

Local councilor Lawrence Lorunyei said the raiders attacked several manyattas and drove away the animals sparking a fierce shootout between the raiders and the residents.

"The raiders drove the animals towards Ngilai area in Baragoil district where they are being pursued by a continent of security personnel deployed to control the mounting tension," Lorunyei said.

"The raiders made away with the livestock after they terrorized most of the residents," he said.

Tension is high as residents fear that the attacks may continues as the Samburu and Turkana communities' plan of retaliatory attacks. Divisional police commander Maurice Makhano said security has been beefed up in the region to quell the violence in the area.

Makhano said investigations have been launched to establish the cause of the raid. "We have also set up camps in all areas where we believe that violence could erupt," he said.

The incidents come barely a day after Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka toured the area and called on the residents to embrace peaceful coexistence in order to foster meaningful development.

During his three-day tour of the region, Musyoka promised to ensure peaceful coexistence among members of Pokot, Samburu and Turkana communities in the East African country and called on Kenyans to shun tribalism and elect leaders who will promote unity and implement the constitution to the full.

"You all know that constitution implementation needs a leader who is committed and respects the values of the document and a champion who will unite all Kenyans regardless of ethnicity and I am equal to the task," he said.